Phosphates But No Algae

[herring_fish]

What negative effects can phosphates cause besides hair or algae slime?

I have medium phosphate levels in my tank but I don't have any hair algae. I probably get the phosphates because I feed heavily and use lots of powders. On the other hand, nitrate levels don't tent the water in any of the three different home tests that I used. after seeing the phosphate test turn blue and the nitrate test not reacting, I thought that I would double and triple check with different kits.

I have an algae scrubber that doesn't grow much algae. I do get a little brown and green solid slime in the scrubber which is a direct response to the powder itself but I don't have anything in the main tank at all. As a matter of fact, I don't hardly get much growth of coralline algae either. I have added a small clump of cheato to the scrubber just for insurance because the hair algae is almost non-existent in the scrubber tray.

I am guessing that the phosphate is coming into the tank via the feed and being produced from the powders that brake down but that it is being processed because the levels don't continue to go up to a high level.

As a medium level of phosphate in the tank harmful, aside from algaes?

 

[HighlandReefer]

What level is your phosphate at?

Scientific testing has found that high phosphate levels inhibits coral growth, most likely due to phosphate hindering the formation of calcium carbonate for the coral skeleton. High phosphate levels may hinder other processes going on inside coral tissue as well. High phosphate can lead to faster growth and reproduction in the symbionts in coral as well.

It is best to keep your phosphate level below 0.03 ppm which is a zero reading with hobby grade phosphate kits. GFO is a good way to remove phosphate.

Randy disuses the issues further in this article:

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

 

[HighlandReefer]

FWIW, if your tank does not have pest algae species in it, then you will not develop much of a problem with many single celled algae. It's many of the more advanced algae that seem to be the pests. Of course if you include diatoms and dinoflagellates as algae, then they can become pests if present and the conditions are right.

You want to be carefull not to allow pest species to enter your tank when you add livestock and coral.

 

[julie180]

Personal experience has taught me that phosphate levels above desired, I have no idea what you mean by "medium" will kill corals.

I also did not have any algae growth, but when my duncan coral started "melting" I figured out it was high phosphate. Since it was last winter, I don't remember the exact numbers but I was not a happy camper.

I was able to save about 20 heads of a 100+ head duncan

I would also suggest you check your source water. That might explain high phos and low nitrates.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that phosphate can be a major problem for calcifying organisms. We need to know the actual level to say much more, though.

 

[herring_fish]

Sorry I have been out of town so I couldn't look at my measuring vessel. I got a .6 phosphate mg/l on an aquarium systems test.

In talking to one of my friends, he thinks that I have a problem with my RO unit that is old and antiquated. It is one that I bought about 18 years ago. It has only two filter canisters and it doesn't have a DI stage. I replaced the membrane just before I left the hobby because of relocation but that could be suspect as well.

My friend will be coming by in a few days to test the input and output water.

 

[bertoni]

Okay, that sounds like a good idea. I'd try testing some distilled water with the phosphate kit, as a sort of sanity test. The result should be zero.